Sak Yants: A [Major] Bucket List Item

Sak Yants are not just tattoos. They are hand-etched designs containing Buddhist prayers written in the ancient Khmer language that are customized for you. The design and blessing that accompanies it is said to have magic qualities to help the recipient in specific aspects of their life, like love, professional success, and protection from harm. The ritualistic process of getting the actual tattoo, starting with an offering, and ending with a blessing, is one of the most beautiful things we've experienced together.

Getting a Sak Yant for me was way more than getting inked. It was about taking the moment to acknowledge everything I've experienced, accomplished, and overcome to be exactly where I am today. My goal was to physically mark a moment in time that signifies growth and progress, and will forever remind me to look forward and keep reaching for the stars.

For Ben, this was his first tattoo. He has been wanting one for awhile, but nothing had really moved him to take the plunge. He saw this as an opportunity to experience something entirely new, embrace a fantastic culture, and commemorate the trip of a lifetime.

So, like I said, these Sak Yants are not just tattoos for us, either in practice or in significance. It was a beautiful, spiritual event. One of our favorite experiences ever. Period.

A little about the process! We went with a guide we found on Airbnb, Petz, who is awesome. One of those warm, friendly people that can make anyone feel comfortable immediately.

Before we headed off to Arjan Neng's, our small group of 5 started off by swinging by the market to pick up some offerings. Ben & I chose to pray to Ganesh, the god of success, by offering sugar cane, banana, incense, and bird seed.

After our offering, we got started. I was up first, followed by Ben. The process was the same same for each person. We started by telling Arjan Neng about our life's experiences, and, more importantly, our goals and what lies ahead for us. Petz was there as our translator. Arjan Neng then made a suggestion for our Sak Yant (both design and placement). While we could have chosen our own design/placement, we felt like that would undercut the value of the process. To say we are thrilled with the outcome, at Arjan Neng's suggestion, would be an understatement.

After deciding on our design, we made an offering of money to Arjan Neng (the cost of the Sak Yant).

An assistant stenciled out the blessing on transfer paper, transferred the design to our skin, and the tattooing began! We were warned that it is more painful than a tattoo gun, but since Ben had never had a tattoo, and mine was 11 years ago, it didn't make much difference to us. It definitely was painful, but not unbearable. It took 30 minutes each, with Arjan Neng inking us by hand while his 2 assistants held our skin taught.

Once the tattoo was complete, Arjan Neng completed a Buddhist blessing.

And voila!

If you're considering a Sak Yant:

1. Do your research. 
1. Arjans are different than monks, and they have different restrictions. 
2. Tattoo parlors do not do Sak Yants. They do tattoos. The power of the Sak Yant lies in it's magic, brought on by the blessing that accompanies it.
3. Safety is important. Many places use new needles, but not new ink (yuck). Some temples don't even use new needles.
4. Shop around for prices. They span from free at some temples (see #3 on safety) to over $250 for Angelina Jolie's arjan. (Again, we highly recommend Petz aand Arjan Neng. They are kind, patient, thorough, safe, and reasonably priced. If fame is something you care about, Brooke Shields and Ryan Phillippe have also been through their doors.)
2. Be open minded and ready for an experience. Being willing to share it with those in your group makes it that much more amazing. 
3. Get a good guide. We would have had no idea what we were doing, and therefore a fraction of the appreciation for the experience, without Petz.
4. Be sure! It is permanent after all :)